Wednesday, May 4, 2011 Bosch SB5006P Rapid Feed 6 Piece 3/8-Inch to 1-Inch Spade Drill Bit Assortment with Nylon Storage Pouch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased the 13 piece set of Bosch RapidFeed Bits from a local industrial supply company.It is very similar to the 6 piece set except it has wider selection of bits and larger sizes.The storage case is high quality with a velcro closure.

The bits are touted to be 3X faster than conventional bits.I cannot confirm or deny this claim but they did cut quickly under specific conditions.Using the 1" size on 2x10 joists, I found that two things needed to be true to get quick and/or remotely effective drilling:

1.The bit's screw tip should pull the bit through the entire workpiece in one continuous motion.
2.A drill far more powerful than a homeowner's-grade 14.4V cordless drill must be used.

Using a potent 8 Amp, 120 VAC drill and firm pressure the bit performed well.If the screw tip did not pull the bit through the entire workpiece in one continuous motion and "spun" or stalled part-way through, the screw tip would pack with sawdust and essentially stop all cutting.Before clearing the sawdust the bit was noticeably less effective at drilling than cheap, regular spade bits.After manually clearing the sawdust the bit would resume aggressive cutting with firm pressure.

Using a 14.4V Cordless drill the bit would begin to pull in to the workpiece but quickly stalled at a shallow depth.The drill's motor lacked the power to cut as fast as the screw tip pulled the bit into the workpiece.

I believe these bits are a nice product but seem to be designed for tougher applications and work far better with more powerful tools.

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Product Description:
Rapid Feed self feeding screw feature quickly draws bit through work; easier to use and faster cutting than traditional spade bits. Precision sharpened for smooth, accurate holes. Angled spurs, cocked slightly forward of the cutting edge, scribe a clean,